Queen film finds their new actor to play Freddie Mercury role

Queen has announced their long-awaited biopic will finally begin production, after finding their Freddie Mercury in Mr Robot Star Rami Malek.

"The film is now 'as-close-as-that' to start of shooting," the band said in a statement on their website.

"Pre-production begins next week in the UK to prepare for start of principal photography in around London as soon as mid-September."

Speaking to Rolling Stone, guitarist Brian May was full of praise for Malek.

"He's completely living and breathing Freddie already, which is just wonderful to see."

The film will be directed by Bryan Singer, best-known for The Usual Suspects and his work on the X-Men films.

May called him the "perfect choice to recreate the fabulous Queen years which brought us such unforgettable moments as Live Aid, which we can reveal will be faithfully recreated for a key sequence the film".

Who will portray May and the rest of the band remains to be announced.

The biopic has been more than a decade in the works, with Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen lined up to portray the flamboyant Mercury at one stage.

Pop singer Adam Lambert currently fills in for Mercury at the band's live shows. Mercury died of AIDS-related illnesses in 1991.